Bedroom Blues

Published 2011 | By Leonie Smith

We all know that sleep is the quintessential to looking beautiful and feeling awesome. But how many of us are getting the recommended amount of sleep to be mentally sharp, emotionally balanced and full of energy every day? Experts in psychology and interior design, Dr Eileen Heyne and James Hue give us the secrets to getting a good night’s sleep.

Doctor Eileen Heyne believes that sleep is vital for the functioning of the body from all points of view. “Without the regular 6-8 hours of sleep one’s health will gradually spiral downwards and you will end up unwell with suppression of the immune system, infections, tiredness and general misery and woes.”

According to the latest national MBF Healthwatch Survey, 51 percent of Australians say they are not getting enough sleep, while 46 percent have been trying to get more sleep. It was found Aussies blamed a range of factors that interfered with their sleep including full schedules, going to bed late, job stress, family issues such as having young children, and poor sleep patterns. However many of us don’t realise that we can get better quality sleep by making simple changes to our bedroom.

James Luu, with a degree in psychology and currently studying interior design, understands the importance of sleep. “You sleep for about a third of your lifetime so it is quite vital to ensure your bedroom expresses positive sleep vibes, and there are multitudes of ways to create this,” he says. Heyne agrees. “Creating an environment which is calm and peaceful for your rest period is vital for our physical and mental wellbeing,” she says.

Here are a few hints and tips for a sleep friendly bedroom:

Keep you bedroom uncluttered. That’s right, the constant pile of clothing on your floor where the only carpet visible is the narrow windy path from door to bed has to go!
Only two activities should be practiced in the bedroom, sleeping and sex. This means keeping everything else out of your ‘sleeping chamber’ to avoid distraction. This includes eating so go easy on the ‘breakfast in bed’.
Laptops, desktops and TV’s should be cast out. The lighting sends out bad non-sleeping signals.
Blinds or shutters are good ways to block light. They are more appropriate than curtains as they manage to completely block the sun out. This helps ensure you wake up when you should wake up, rather than from the sun.
Pastel and pale wall colouring are good choices for your bedroom. If your walls are covered with fluro green or hot pink it’s time to strike anew. Keep it personal with pale and pastel colouring and remember light saturation of colours is key.
Sustainability – Yes it’s that word again! The chemicals you are using in your bedroom effects how you sleep. The scent that comes from these products changes your sleep patterns. Go for low VOC (volitale organic compounds), economically friendly and organic chemicals.